Rocker haymow-forming device.



I. A. ROBERTS.

ROCKER HAYMOW FORMING DEVICE.

APPLlCATlON FILED 050.11. 1915.

Patented May 30,1916.

it s

JAMES ADDISON ROBERTS, OF ASI-ILAND, OHIO.

ROCKER I-IAYMOVV-FORMING DEVICE.

Application filed December 11, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES ADDISON Ronnnrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ashland, in the county of Ashland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rocker Haymow-Forming Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improved device for disposition in the top of a hay mow for receiving hay from a mechanically operated fork and carrier therein and for distributing such hay as evenly as possible to all parts of the mow.

The object of the invention is to provide a contrivance of the class specified whichalthough being of simple and inexpensive construction, will be highly efficient and durable and will possess a number of advantageous characteristics.

With this general object in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and in unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawing which constitutes a part of this application and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section through a hay mow showing the application of the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal sectional view of the improved distributer; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section as viewed on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on the plane of the line 4- iof Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4t showing the distributor in a different position.

In specifically describing the structure shown in the drawing above briefly de scribed, similar reference characters will be placed on corresponding parts throughout the several views, and reference will be herein made to the numerous elements by their respective indices. To this end, M indicates a portion of a hay mow provided with the usual roof B, and with the spaced parallel horizontal tie beams B connecting the sides of the mow at the lower edge of the roof. Rising from the beams B are the usual up right queen posts P. Mounted beneath the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May ac, ieie.

Serial No. 66,332.

ridge of the roof B, is a longitudinally extending track T upon which the carriage C of a mechanically operated hay fork F is mounted. All of the parts so far briefly mentioned are of common construction and are merely illustrated for the purpose of disclosing the application of the invention to use for the purpose of receiving hay from the fork F and distributing it to both sides of the mow.

Briefly speaking, the improved device comprises a pair of horizontally spaced axially alined wheel-like rockers 1, a flat upright hay receiving and distributing frame 2, a weighted bar 3 secured at its ends to the rockers 1 below the axes thereof, an operating cable 4 for moving the rockers in either direction, and a number of lengths of cable 5 adapted to guide the rockers 1 in their movement upon the beams B, thus preventing the axis of the entire device from shifting obliquely of said beams.

The rockers 1 are here shown in the form of flat rings having annular laterally extending flanges 1 on their inner edges for reception between any two of the beams B whereby to prevent endwise shifting of the machine thereon. The rings may be either stamped from heavy sheet metal, or may be in the form of castings. In either case, they will be formed with annular external grooves 1 for the reception of the inner ends of the lengths 5 of cable.

As shown clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, two stretches of cable extend horizontally in opposite directions from each rocker 1, the inner ends of said cables being passed in opposite directions around said rockers and being received in the grooves l thereof, said inner ends being anchored to the rockers as disclosed at 5. lihe outer ends of the stretches of cable, however, are equipped with any appropriate devices 5 whereby they may be detachably secured to the queen posts B. By this arrangement, the-axis of the entire hay receiving and distributing device will be prevented from shifting obliquely of the beams B, and thus the flanges 1 are held against binding against said beams.

The weighted bar 3 of wood or metal is preferably widened horizontally as shown clearly in Fig. 3 and equipped with a pair of upstanding flanges 3* on its upper side forming therebetween a channel in which I p 7 is secured. plurality of upright 7 upper ends upon whichthe hay from the fork F is received. Secured to the opposite sides of the tines 2 at the intermediate portions thereof, and having their opposite ends anchored to the rockers 1 above the axes of the latter, is a pair of horizontal bars 2* preferably constructed of angle iron. These bars serve not only asrigid'spacers and retainers for the intermediate portions of the tines 2 but hold the upper portions of the rockers 1 in correctly spaced relation. Furthermore, they serve for the anchorage of filling boards 2 which are interposed between the aforesaid tines and secured respectively at their upper and lower ends to the bars 2 and 3.

From tile construction so far described, it will be evident that the weighted bar 3 will normally retain the rockers 1 in a neutral position with the frame 2 standing upright, and-will return such rockers to this position when tilted in either direction, this tiltingbeing accomplished automatically by the weight of the hay deposited onto said framefrom the fork F. As this hay is deposited upon the frame and said frame tilts laterally, it will be obvious that the rockers 1 will travel longiti'idinallyupon the beams B. Thus, by the time the frame 2 reaches the inclined'position shown in Fig. 5 and is in readiness to discharge its load, the entire device is moved laterally to such an extent as to discharge the quantity of hay into the mow. near one side or the other thereof, according to the direction in which the device is tilted. v

In order to control the direction in which the hay is delivered to the mow, the operating cable 4 has been provided, said cable being attached at its upper end to one of the rockers 1 at a point spacedvertically above the axis thereof, the lowerend of said cable being positioned at a point readily accessible to a person standing below the mow. Thus, by pulling the cable in one direction or the other, the end abovespecifiedmay be easily attained. p g

A ha'y distributing device constructed as above described will not only prevent the hay from the fork F from being deposited in a central stack within the mow, but it will so loosen the hay as to prevent excessive packing of the latter, this being expedient fornumerous wellknown reasons. Never- :theless, regardless of the numerous advantages derived from the contrivance, it will be simple, inexpensive and durable. V 7 7 In the foregoing, I have described cer- V supporting the apparatus, it being understood that the outer ends of said cables will be anchored to suitable fixed parts of the mow.

I wish to here direct attention to the fact that no gears or rack bars are employed, no metal tracks are necessary, pulleys and depending weights are eliminated, all of these parts having been heretofore used on numerous devices of the general character of my own. Also, the apparatus will deliver the hay over a wide area toward either side of the mow and will automatically dump or discharge its lead, after which it will be quickly returned to normal position. It may also be well to state that in view of the mounting of the improved machine, it will be impossible for it to fall and injure persons below. In short, the apparatus is extremely simple, yet is equally or more advantageous than those heretofore used for the same purpose.

If found desirable, the rockers 1 may be sold by themselves as articles of manufacture, accompanied by directions for allowing the purchaser to construct the remainder of the apparatus from any appropriate material which he may have on hand or which may be obtainable for this purpose. Since these rockers may be easily and inexpensively stamped or rolled from proper gage metal, they may be marketed at a price within reach of those who could not otherwise afford the installation of a the purpose of the present invention.

I claim 1. A hay distributer comprising a pair of horizontally spaced axially alined rockers to be mounted in the top of a hay mow for free rocking movement in either direction, an overbalancing bar secured at its ends to the rockers below the axes thereof whereby to normally retain said rockers in neutral position and to return them to such position when rocked, and a hay receiving and distributing frame carried by and projecting above said rockers.

2. A hay distributer comprising a pair of horizontally spaced axially alined rockers device forright hay receiving and distributing frame secured to said bar and projecting vertically therefrom above the rockers.

3. A hay distributer comprising a pair of horizontally spaced axially alined rockers to be mounted in the top of a hay mow for free rocking movement in either direction, a horizontally overbalancing bar secured at its ends to said rockers below the axes thereof whereby to normally hold said rockers in a neutral position and to return them to such position when rocked, a second and lighter horizontal bar secured at its ends to the rockers above the aforesaid bar, and a hay receiving and distributing frame including upright slats secured to the two bars and projecting above the rockers.

4. A hay distributer comprising a pair of horizontally spaced axially alined rockers to be mounted in the top of a hay mow for free rocking movement in either direction, an overbalancing horizontal bar secured at its ends to the rockers below the axes thereof whereby to normally hold said rockers in a neutral position and to return them to such position when rocked, the upper side of said bar being channeled longitudinally, a second horizontal bar secured at its ends to the rockers above the aforesaid bar, and a hay receiving and distributing frame including a number of upright slats secured between their ends to the second bar and having their lower ends secured within the channel of the first named bar.

5. A hay distributer comprising a pair of horizontally spaced axially alined rockers to be mounted in the top of a hay mow for free rocking movement in either direction, upper and lower horizontal bars secured at their ends to the rockers, and an upright hay receiving and distributing frame secured to said bars and projecting above the rockers.

6. A hay distributing device comprising a pair of horizontally spaced axially alined wheel-like rockers to be mounted in the top of a hay mow for free rocking movement, upper and lower horizontal bars secured at their ends to the rockers and disposed respectively above and below the axes thereof, and a plurality of upright tines secured to said bars and rising above the upper bar.

7. A hay distributer comprising a pair of horizontally spaced axially alined wheellike rockers to be mounted in the top of a hay mow for free rocking movement in either direction, a horizontal overbalancing bar secured at its ends to the rockers below the axes thereof whereby to normally retain said rockers in neutral position and to return them to such position when rocked, said bar being channeled longitudinally on its upper side, an additional and lighter horizontal bar secured at its opposite ends to the rockers above the axes thereof, a plurality of spaced upright slats having their low ends anchored in the channel of the weighted bar and having their intermediate portions secured to the other bar, said slats having their upper ends spaced above the last named bar, and a plurality of filling boards interposed between the inner ends of the aforesaid slats and secured at their opposite ends to the aforesaid bars.

8. A hay distributer comprising a pair of horizontally spaced axially alined wheellike rockers to be mounted on a pair of horizontal beams in the top of a hay mow, said rockers having annular flanges to engage said beams for guiding the rockers, a hay receiving and distributing member carried by and projecting above the rockers, means for normally holding said rockers in a neutral position and for returning them to such position when rocked, and two lengths of cable extending horizontally in opposite directions from each rocker and having their inner ends passed in opposite directions around said rockers, the outer ends of said lengths of cable being adapted for anchorage to fixed parts of the mow, said lengths serving to prevent the axis of the device from shifting obliquely of the aforesaid beams.

9. A hay distributer comprising a pair of horizontally spaced axially alined wheel-like rockers to be positioned in the top of a hay mow, a hay receiving and distributing member carried by and projecting above the rockers, means for normally holding said rockers in neutral position and for returning them to such position when rocked, and two lengths of cable extending horizontally in opposite directions from each rocker and having their inner ends passed in opposite directions around said rockers, the outer ends of said lengths of cable being adapted for anchorage to fixed parts of the mow.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES ADDISON ROBERTS. Witnesses:

Rn'rus LEE HILL, AMELIA M. Sorinn'rznn.

depict of thin patent may be obtained for five eenta each, by addretring the Commissioner of Patcntii, Waahinaton, D. U. 

